Ethnic policies to be outlined

November 17 2002By Larry Schwartz

Victoria's ethnic communities fear there are too few facilities in regional centres to cope with an influx of non-English-speaking migrants.

"We are very concerned that there is not the proper infrastructure to assist some of our newer migrants who are endeavouring to settle in country Victoria," said Marion Lau, chairwoman of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria.

Delegates from more than 180 affiliated ethnic organisations are expected to attend a meeting at the Brunswick Town Hall tomorrow night.

It has been organised by the council to enable representatives of the ALP, Liberals, Democrats and Greens to discuss policies.

"We have indicated to them that we want to hear their policies on the education curriculum, the development of languages other than English, health and aged care, regional development and service provision to the ethnic communities," Ms Lau said.

Migrants were being encouraged to settle in regional centres, such as Shepparton and Mildura, and the council was concerned about provision of language services for adults and children.

Labor last week promised to increase Victoria's intake of skilled migrants by 2 per cent if re-elected. The Sunday Age has reported that ALP policy will include a study to identify skill shortages in regional Victoria and marketing campaigns aimed at potential migrants with relevant skills.

Ms Lau said Labor had indicated it would be represented by John Pandazopoulos, Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs.

Pamela Curr, the Greens' candidate for Brunswick, would speak for the party. The Liberal Party and Democrats were yet to identify speakers.

Ms Lau said the state election was important to ethnic communities, "especially now when we do have a lot of refugees and new migrants who are encouraged to settle in regional and country areas".

Nino Randazzo, editor-in-chief of the Italian language daily newspaper Il Globo, said its community had a good relationship with both major parties. He said although it was too early to reveal which party his newspapers would advise readers to back or to predict an outcome, "if I had to bet any money, I would bet on the return of the Labor Government".

Mr Randazzo said Liberal leader Robert Doyle had not had enough time to establish himself and "we believe that Bracks has enjoyed a very good relationship with the ethnic communities at large, including the Italian community".

He said Mr Bracks had been "probably the most courageous of all state premiers" in disregarding federal Labor and pushing for increased migration and compassion towards refugees.

"He has been a courageous leader, for which there is a particular feeling in the ethnic communities," Mr Randazzo said.

Kostas Nikolopoulos, deputy editor of the Greek language bi-weekly Neos Kosmos, said the paper rarely counselled its readers on voting choices and would not do so this month.

He said despite "lip-service" to multiculturalism by both major parties, not enough had been achieved.

He was keen to see the implementation of recommendations in a recent report to the State Government - Language for Victoria's Future. It highlights the need for better coordination, planning and promotion.

Mr Nikolopoulos said there was "anxiety" in the community about the level of teaching of the Greek language. Other issues of concern included public health, interpreting and translating, small business policies and transport for the elderly.